SMACK SHACK IS NOT A BUILDING ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE

Smack Shack is also not the name of a Law & Order episode. A lobster smack is a one-man sailboat used in the Northeast during the 1800s for commercial lobster fishing, explains Josh Thoma, the Minneapolis chef/restaurateur. It’s also the genesis of his Smack Shack food cart (truck, actually) on the corner of 1st Avenue and North 4th Street in Minneapolis.

So what does a centuries-old lobster boat have to do with Minneapolis street food? In his food truck, you will find a New England-style lobster roll with a quarter-pound of shelled lobster and a little bit of cucumber. The Smack Shack also makes po’ boys with shrimp or andouille sausage with arugula, tomato and aioli. The warm, grilled bread and baguettes come from the Salty Tart at the Midtown Global Market. The Salty Tart is also working up a key lime pie for the truck.

Smack Shack isn’t only for the lunch crowd. It’s open late. Hours run from 11am until 10 pm most weeknights, and all the way through midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Thoma, already a familiar name downtown, says he decided to open up a street cart because it’s a relatively small investment for a new restaurant. “It sounded like something fun to do.” [Citypages]

FOOD CARTS

There's a relatively new Thai street food cart on West 50th St between 6th & 7th Ave called Tuk Tuk Boy. A tuk tuk is a 3 wheeled vehicle popular in Southeast Asia.
Tuk Tuk Boy has a Thai menu including pad thai, chicken basil, Thai bbq and red & green curries. You can see their full menu with prices...